We have been homeschooling for many years, and I sometimes forget that what we do isn't the same for others. So, I am writing a monthly homeschool recap to demonstrate one way (there are so many methods out there!) that homeschooling can work.
We use an eclectic method of homeschooling that leans very heavily towards the Charlotte Mason method of teaching. Without going into too much detail about this method, it can be described as very literature-heavy. We read and discuss A LOT of books. We don't spend a lot of time on workbooks, worksheets, etc., We have gravitated toward this method over the years and found that it works very well for our learners and family lifestyle.
Here are some items that we have read, listened to or watched during the month of May:
*The Holy Bible
The Universe Next Door by James Sire
7 Men Who Rule the World from the Grave by Dave Breese
Chaucer for Children: A Golden Key by Hugh Reginald Haweis
The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories by William J. Bennett
Bulfinch's Mythology
The White Mountains by John Christopher
The Once and Future King by TH White
Completed activities and watched videos assigned by the FFA teacher regarding veterinary science.
The Ocean of Truth: The Story of Sir Isaac Newton by Joyce McPherson
Trial and Triumph: Stories from Church History by Richard Hannula
Abigail Adams: Witness to a Revolution by Natalie S. Bober
The Landing of the Pilgrims by James Daugherty
Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain
Read various poems by Hilda Conkling
Read various poems by Emily Dickenson
A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Watch How Do Ocean Currents Work? - Jennifer Verdium - TED-Ed on YouTube
The Story-Book of Science by Jean Henri Fabre
Whatever Happened to Penny Candy? by Richard J. Maybury
Listen The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas on Audible
The Land of Little Rain by Mary Austin
In Freedom's Cause: A Story of Wallace and Bruce by G.A. Henty
Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Tree of Freedom by Rebecca Caudill
The Secrets of the Woods by William J. Long
Marco Polo: His Travels and Adventures by George Makepeace Towle
This Country of Ours by HE Marshall - we use a different version, but this link is similar
The Reb and the Redcoats by Constance Savery
By the Shores of Silver Lake by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Calico Captive by Elizabeth George Speare
The Millionaire Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of America's Wealthy by Thomas Stanley
The Gammage Cup by Carol Kendall
*Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
*Listen to The Children of the New Forest by Frederick Marryat
Bright Valley of Love by Edna Hong
Heroes of the Bible Devotional by Joshua Cooley
First Studies of Plant Life by George Francis Atkinson
The Rodale Book of Composting by Jerry Minnich
The Wonder Book of Chemistry by Jean Henri Fabre
The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
George Washington's World by Genevieve Foster
English Literature for Boys and Girls by HE Marshall
The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court by Mark Twain
Our Island Story by HE Marshall
*John Adams by David McCullough
Read Historical Document: Washington's 1st Inaugural
Read Historical Document: Speeches by Wilberforce & Pitt about slave trade
A History of the American People by Paul Johnson
The Age of Revolution by Winston Churchill
The Lost Prince by Francis Hodgson Burnett
The Fellowship of the Ring by JRR Tolkien
The Brendan Voyage by Tim Severin
The Royal Road to Romance by Richard Halliburton
God's Smuggler by Brother Andrew with John & Elizabeth Andrew
The Bears of Blue River by Charles Major
*Five Little Peppers and How they Grew by Margaret Sidney (we have an older copy but this one is comparable)
Then There Were Five by Elizabeth Enright
Parables from Nature by Margaret Scott Gatty
Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson
The Little White Horse by Elizabeth Goudge
Miracle at Philadelphia by Catherine Drinker Bowen
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens
The Birth of Britain by Winston Churchill
*Nutrition and Physical Degeneration by Weston A Price
No Fear Shakespeare - Othello by SparkNotes
Here's a list of more "formal" curriculum products that we have used during the month of May:
A Humble Place: Artist Study on Fragonard
Sailors and Seababies: The Fairy Tales of Charles Kingsley by Anne E. White
Beautiful Feet Books Around the World I
Fallacy Detective by Nathaniel and Hans Bluedorn
Grammar of Poetry by Matt Whitling
Life of Fred - Fractions by Stanley Schmidt
Asgard to Athens by Anne E. White
The Plutarch Project Volume One by Anne E White
Exploring Creation with Physical Science by Jay Wile
The Art of Problem Solving, Introduction to Algebra by Richard Rusczyk
Life of Fred - Beginning Algebra Expanded Edition by Stanley Schmidt
Life of Fred - Dogs by Stanley Schmidt
Life of Fred - Goldfish by Stanley Schmidt
A Bluestocking Guide: Justice by Kathryn Daniels
Getting Started with Latin by William Linney
Mind Benders by The Critical Thinking Co.
Here are some online classes/resources that we have used:
Hillsdale - Constitution 101 class
Turning Point Bahnsen Economics Course
All In One Homeschool Online Spanish Course
All In One High School - Biblical Hebrew I Course
Here are some games we have played:
Rummy
Brain Box - Animals
*Items marked with an asterisk are my personal favorites and highly recommended.
Here are a few field trips/activities that we have participated in during the month of May:
- M., E., and G. attended livestock judging classes for 4H and FFA.
- M. E. and G. participated in the 4H State Livestock Judging Competition.
- The kids assisted with various farmers markets.
- P. and E. attended a play of The Adams Family produced by Bluegrass United to support their friends in their craft.
- They prepared meals at home including pizza from scratch, strawberry shortcake and homemade pretzels.
- They attended FFA meetings.
- They attended an FFA class on veterinary science that discussed breeds, injections, etc.
- P. E. and M participated in a veterinary science workshop by Kentucky State University with their FFA group.
- They attended their end-of-the-year FFA banquet.
- P. and E. participated in spring soccer training with Bluegrass United.
- We visited Wendt's Wildlife. We had a great day!
- P. and E. assisted with the children's ministry at church.
- The kids participated with the youth group at church.
- The kids helped with babysitting duties this month.
This allowed H. to have a partner in crime with her projects on the farm.
- The kids assisted with farm chores and videos for our customers.
- M. worked to improve her photography skills.
Our lives are not what is considered normal, but we are loving it this way!
*For those that enjoy the booklists, I have attached links to my Amazon affiliate account. As an Amazon associate, I will earn money from any qualifying purchases made by using these link